GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP
university chancellor
The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of MacEwan University and is elected by the Board of Governors to serve a four-year term in accordance with Alberta’s Post-Secondary Learning Act (2003), Section 8.
The Chancellor serves as a member of the Board of Governors and represents the University at ceremonial occasions. The Chancellor presides over all degree-conferring ceremonies of the University (for example, Convocation) and confers degrees upon those to which they are entitled.
Meet our chancellor
Gary G. Mar, K.C.
President and CEO, Canada West Foundation
University Chancellor
Gary Mar is an accomplished and respected leader with deep experience in government and business. Prior to joining the Canada West Foundation in 2020, Gary served as President and CEO of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC), the national trade association representing the service, supply and manufacturing sectors within the upstream petroleum industry.
He has broad experience in government and served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Province of Alberta from 1993-2007. During his time as an elected official, Gary held several cabinet portfolios – Community Development; Health and Wellness; Education; Environment; and International and Intergovernmental Relations. Gary has also served as the Official Representative (Minister-Counsellor) of the Province of Alberta at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. from 2007 to 2011 and as the Province of Alberta’s Senior Representative to Asia from 2011 to 2015.
Following his government service, Gary was an independent consultant working for both Chinese and Canadian companies seeking assistance with trans-Pacific trade and investment. In 2016, he co-founded Canadian Advantage Petroleum Corporation, which successfully purchased heavy oil in Alberta and sold it directly to refineries in China.
Gary has a law degree from the University of Alberta and was appointed as an Adjunct Professor at the U of A’s School of Marketing, Business Economics and Law, and is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business. In 2022, Gary was appointed a member and chair of the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence and was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for public service.
Contact the MacEwan University Chancellor
Chancellor Gary G. Mar
Office of the Chancellor
MacEwan University
7-213, 10700 - 104 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2
Contact the Office of University Governance
governance@macewan.ca.
Participate in supporting the chancellor’s vision
Typically held in the spring and fall, students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to the Chancellor Speaker Series. Issues of importance to the chancellor and the communities that MacEwan University serves are discussed. There is often a student contest along with presentations that complement the series.
Past chancellors
MacEwan University celebrates the previous chancellors who, over the years, have helped guide and support the university. Each brought their own experience and played an essential role in our growth and success.
Dr. Anthony Fields made history as MacEwan University’s first Chancellor, serving from July 2021 to June 2025. A renowned oncologist and advocate for academic excellence, he played a pivotal role in shaping MacEwan’s future, championing academic excellence with humanity and compassion. Through initiatives like the Chancellor Speaker Series, he facilitated meaningful discussions and strengthened the university’s role as a thought leader. His dedication to education and community engagement has left a lasting legacy, reinforcing MacEwan’s reputation as a forward-thinking institution. Dr. Fields’s leadership and contributions will be remembered as a cornerstone of the university’s growth and success.